1924 Vauxhall 14-40 Princeton Tourer

Prior to 1925, when Vauxhall was taken over by General Motors, the company was renowned for producing handsome, finely engineered cars that put it on a par with Bentley or Sunbeam. Laurence Pomeroy's tenure as Chief Engineer saw the firm produce some of the truly outstanding designs of the Edwardian period, commencing with the 20hp Prince Henry in 1910. A larger (4.0-litre) version of the Prince Henry's four-cylinder side-valve engine was developed for its successor, the D-Type, which is perhaps best remembered for its role as a WWI military staff car. With the return of peacetime production at the end of The Great War, the D-Type's successor, the 30-98, proved itself to be one of the greatest of all fast tourers, and in 1922 Vauxhall matched its great rival - the Sunbeam company of Wolverhampton - in offering an alternative, smaller and less expensive car - the 2.3-litre 14-40hp M-Type. The latter featured a four-cylinder detachable-head engine, 3-speed in-unit gearbox, a single-plate clutch, and rear brakes only. It sold for around £750 against some £1,600 for the 30-98.

The second generation of the M-series, as we have here today, benefits from a redesigned cylinder head, by Ricardo giving extra compression, a 4-speed gearbox and four-wheel brakes.

#M922 was delivered new by Vauxhall and fitted with four-seater Princeton tourer Coachwork. It's believed to have been registered in Staffordshire when new and remained in the ownership of one family, father, son and brother, from 1924-2000. Our vendor, a retired mechanical engineer, first saw the 14-40 when he was 15 years of age in 1960 and was obviously fascinated by it, so when the third-generation of family ownership passed away in 2000, he was able to purchase it from the original family owner's widow.

The Vauxhall retains its original chassis, engine, gearbox, axles, coachwork etc. and is in remarkably solid condition having been off the road since approximately 1985 in dry storage. After his purchase, an engine strip-down was started but never completed. In fact, the whole restoration  project was never really started and #M922 returned to garage storage until recently.

The engine crankcase remains in the car, with the head and block separate, but included along with valves, springs, guides, shells etc. The car steers, brakes (rear only as fronts are void of shoes) and has good suspension. Cycle wings have been fitted to the rear at some time in replacement for Vauxhall's long flowing type. The car still has its original instruments plus others, and column controls which often go missing over the years.

This fantastic project would make a superb VSCC rally car or even trials machine. There is a ready supply of 14-40 parts available and, once the engine is rebuilt, the car could be used in ‘oily rag’ condition or would be a great basis for a full restoration. A V5C registration document has been applied for by the vendor, and is hoped to be completed my time of sale - otherwise it will follow post sale.